Don't Hex and Drive (Stay a Spell, #2)

by Juliette Cross

We stood there in a silent hug for what might have been one minute. Maybe two. But that small moment filled me with dizzying bliss. Her slender body pressed to mine felt like holding home in my arms. I knew then that there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Isadora Savoie. It also dawned on me that it was getting harder and harder to fool myself. What I wanted with this beautiful witch was anything but casual.

“We’re not murderers, bro.” Devraj struck him so fast it made me jump. My pulse pounded against my ribcage at the sudden act of violence. When Devraj spoke, his voice grated with malice. “You may not be murderers, mother fucker, but you’re kidnapping and terrifying innocent women and selling their blood for profit. You’re violating them.”

Even knowing that, I had to admit a frightening truth to myself. I wanted him.

I had to wonder who else the overlord of the vampires had needed to hold and question in that room.

Why do i feel like jules and reuben are gonna have sex in the interrogation room in their book LMAO

“Are you upset?” he asked softly. Sweetly. “No.” His tender tone made something ache beneath my ribcage. “You seem so.” “And you’re an expert on my moods now?” “I’m an observant man.” His hand slipped from mine to wrap around my neck. “And observing what makes you laugh or frown, what makes your heart beat faster.” His thumb brushed my pulse. “It’s one of my favorite pastimes.”

And though I totally understood her angry vibes, that’s not what I was feeling. It was envy twisting my stomach into knots, not anger. These other women had experienced pleasure in the arms of Devraj. Suddenly, I had the craziest thought. Why shouldn’t I do the same?

The umbrella-style awning over the table blocked out the heat of the sun, and the breeze coming off the Mississippi River in the near distance made this the perfect spot for my first date with Isadora Savoie. Make no mistake. Whether she knew it or not, this was a date.

She had no idea but I’d ordered the biggest, brightest, safest reflectors possible to go on her bike. In addition, I’d made sure to replace her tires with wide-rimmed ones for easier balance and durability. The thought of something happening to Isadora, of her getting hurt again, had my protective instincts on high alert. It was in that moment at the bike shop where I’d interrogated the guy behind the counter over every detail of the new safety features that I realized I’d never been this insanely protective over a woman before. Without any attempt on her part, I was completely entranced.

This was no fly-by fascination. This was hardcore witchery.

“It’s just that I’m a private person, and I’m very particular about who I date and who I allow in my bed.” She couldn’t look me in the eye, but she went on. “Sometimes it’s just easier to rely on myself.” She sipped her Bloody Mary again before adding matter-of-factly, “I can take care of myself just fine.” She meant take care of her own pleasure just fine. My pants grew tighter while I imagined taking care of her in my own way. “I’m sure you can.” The waiter cleared the table and set down her house salad. While she busied herself mixing the greens and dressing, I leaned forward, forearms braced on the table. “But I’d like to apply for the job.”

“I imagine she was proud of you. You were a very dutiful son, I’ll bet.” “Actually, I was.” Except for the blood-drinking I did behind her back.

I realized that my shy girl only opened up like this for people she trusted. A fact that had warmth blooming in the center of my chest.

“You mean, you don’t trust my driving? Is that what you’re saying?” “No,” she said quickly. “It’s not that. I just.” She shrugged. “You don’t enjoy my company?” I teased. That pretty pink color flushed her cheeks again as she leveled me with those green eyes. “It’s not that either.” “So you admit you do enjoy my company. Love it, in fact, right?” She laughed. “You really are incorrigible.” “So I’m told. Repeatedly. By a very pretty witch.”

He’d invaded my headspace and wouldn’t leave, no matter how hard I tried to get rid of him.

I glanced over at my desk where Violet had set my DVD of Dilwala Deewana. Sorry. Take that back. Where she’d propped it up with a hot pink sticky note she’d grabbed off my desk and written in her swirly script: This is NOT trash. Watch often. You’re welcome.

He was compelling on so many levels, and I just couldn’t deny I honestly wanted to see what he could offer. For only one night, of course. What could be the harm?

“I wanted to see how amazing you’d look naked on this rug.” His voice dropped deeper, more dangerous. “You look like a fucking queen.”

call me my chemical romance because im not okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

All the while, telling my silly, soft heart not to get attached. Easier said than done.

What the fuck was that?

I felt adrift. Unmoored. Lost to any other purpose but the one that mattered. Her.

For blood. For sex. I bit back a groan, knowing she had no idea what this meant. Even so, I pretended for one fleeting minute that she was mine, licking a line down her throat to the base where her pulse beat hard. “Stay with me,” I pleaded. “A little longer,” I clarified.

Fucking hell. This woman. Her body. Her soul. I wanted it all.

Fuck. Me.

I sucked on her tongue, the smallest taste of her blood like heroin, drugging me with a euphoric high as I stroked inside her.

Yessss twilight

I was begging her, but I didn’t know what for. For more of this? To put me out of my misery? To kill me now so I’d die the happiest of men?

Because whatever that was, it wasn’t playful. It felt like danger and providence and a shocking dose of destiny. Whereas I was perfectly ready to discuss and explore what that could mean, it was quite obvious that Isadora wasn’t.

Though from her searching stare, she was trying to figure out what was going on in my head. Too bad. I wasn’t going to tell her. Because it would scare the living fuck out of her.

“I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other around,” she said as she stepped out into the back courtyard. Oh, she better fucking believe we would.

Knowing she wouldn’t accept the kind of kiss goodbye that I wanted to give her, I leaned in and brushed a kiss on her cheek. The familiar flush of pink filled her face, and I wanted to laugh that a simple gesture like that could make her blush after what I’d witnessed of the vixen inside her.

I wanted Isadora. Not for a night. Not for a hookup. I wanted her glorious mind and beautiful body for as long as I was here in New Orleans. I didn’t want to let her go for one minute of the time we had to be together.

What Isadora Savoie didn’t know or understand was that one drop of her blood had set my body on fire. Perhaps my soul, too. Infecting me with a drive I couldn’t suppress even if I wanted to. And I didn’t want to. There was something about her. She’d had me prowling and circling from the moment we met, and that fateful nick on her tongue sealed the deal. I was now on the hunt. For her.

“All business, huh? That’s why you’re wearing eye makeup and so desperately trying to find your favorite Passion Pink lip gloss, I’m sure.” “Go away, Violet.” I found the lip gloss she was talking about then glared at her while she smiled like the demonic imp she was. She tapped on her temple. “I can sense it.” “Out!”

One night wasn’t enough. Desire seemed a feeble and weak word to describe what I felt for the sweet witch sitting in that booth. All I knew was that whatever this was, I wanted more. Much more.

“While I’m here, we could enjoy each other.” I glanced away, noting the sharp sting beneath my ribcage. Wow. That painful pang of disappointment was unexpected. It already hurt more than I imagined it would. He wanted to play. But I realized my heart wanted more. I’d done plenty of playtime with men. But now, having seen what my sister Evie had with Mateo, I realized I wanted more than a fun affair. If anything, my experience with Devraj reminded me that I could feel deeply for another man. But I couldn’t let myself play with a man who already had his hooks in me. Not knowing those three little words—while I’m here—gutted me while we swayed on the dancefloor.

poured me a glass of Chardonnay

gags in i hate chardonnay

She wore her favorite hot pink tank top with the phrase I’m not bossy, I’m the queen. A tilted crown was etched in the middle with rhinestone jewels.

Need

Was I wrong in the attraction I sensed from her? Was it one-sided? I knew it wasn’t. Even at The Green Light, her pulse raced when I pulled her into my arms on the dancefloor. She couldn’t fake her body’s reaction, the subtle nuances I was so sensitive to as an experienced vampire. The tripping of her pulse, the labored breathing, the dilation of her pretty green eyes. And yet, here was proof she wasn’t interested in my company. Her words at The Green Light had stung. And maybe she was right to a certain degree. We did move in different circles, lived in different worlds. But I wanted her in mine. Or maybe I’d give up mine to be in hers. I don’t know. All I knew was that after three hundred years, I’d never felt this sort of obsessive attraction toward a woman. And what she didn’t know was that I could be patient. And tenacious.

The gentle timbre of Isadora’s clutched me in the gut, reminding me how deep this witch had her hooks into me. The funny thing was that I was perfectly okay with being at her mercy. If she only knew, what would she do?

How did I know all of this? Because I’d been doing extensive research on Conduit witches over the past week. Yeah, I had it bad.

Isadora gasped when we appeared beside them. She clutched her chest. “I hate it when y’all do that.” I couldn’t help but smile. My witch was so sensitive. My witch. When had I begun to think of her that way? How could I make it a reality?

Damn, was that what I looked like when I stared at Isadora? We two were a sad lot. But unlike Ruben, I wasn’t going to wait a decade to go for my woman.

keeping my eyes on Isadora. My protective instincts pushed me like never before. She wanted to date supernaturals, including other vampires, and she had no idea how beastly we could all be. Take me for example. I was concocting ideas of sabotage because I already considered her mine.

“It’s quite…nebulous.”

GOOBIEEEEEE

And that was that. I needed a man I could fall in love with. One who’d stay.

Violet grinned, her cat-like eyes shining by the candlelight. “We’re doing three cards. One for personal. One for professional. One for your heart’s goal.” “Heart’s goal?” I asked with skepticism. My gaze darted to Isadora again, the magnetic pull she had on me in a room so overpowering I could hardly focus on anything else. “To catch the kidnapper, of course,” Violet answered, her gaze on the cards, her voice amused. “That would be the goal that weighs most heavily on you. Right?” “Right. Of course.”

“This means resistance and indecision. There’s something in your personal life that you’re stalling about. If you really want it, you’re going to need to get over that hump. Make the decision and go for it.”

Or hump HER amirite ladies

You best be all in, vampire.”

Especially after that peculiar reading from Violet, her words making me sicker by the second as I walked to my home next door. He knows what he could lose if he fails. Pretty, lovely, wonderful Isadora. “Then I won’t lose,” I vowed, more determined than ever.

Note to self: a blushing vampire was adorable.

“It was such a pleasure meeting you, Isadora. I hope he deserves you.” “Not sure he wants me the way you’re thinking.”